Commerce minister holds productive discussion with Nicaraguan adviser

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Saturday that China is willing to join hands with Nicaragua to promote high-quality construction of the Belt and Road, push forward negotiations on the two countries' bilateral free trade agreement and cultivate more momentum for bilateral cooperation to lift their economic and trade relations to a new level, according to an online statement published by the Ministry of Commerce on Monday.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Laureano Ortega, adviser to the Nicaraguan president on investment, trade and international cooperation. The two exchanged views on implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries to deepen bilateral economic and trade practical cooperation.

Wang said the countries' cooperation has achieved much since the resumption of diplomatic relations. He mentioned he witnessed the establishment of an inter-governmental mechanism for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries last year, the signing of early harvest arrangements for a bilateral FTA, and the launch of negotiations on a comprehensive FTA.

China's imports from Nicaragua surged 43.7 percent year-on-year in 2022, fully demonstrating the dividends brought about by the resumption of diplomatic relations, Wang said.

Laureano said Nicaragua attaches great importance to the FTA negotiations, and hopes both sides will accelerate efforts to promote the entry into force of the early harvest arrangements of the FTA as soon as possible and reach a high-quality comprehensive agreement at an early date.

Nicaragua is willing to work with China to enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation and jointly build a community with a shared future for humans, he said.

He also said Nicaragua is willing to actively participate in various exhibitions hosted by China to further expand bilateral imports and exports, welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and is willing to provide a better business environment for Chinese investors.

liuzhihua@chinadaily.com.cn